Getting to know your Community

The seasons are changing and you are hopefully settling  into your volunteer year.  You've survived the initial months where things are still new, but you are also starting to experience some familiarity in your environment.  One of these "familiar" components is your community of volunteers.

The process of getting to know one another can be difficult, especially with everything else that is happening in your life.  However, it is well worth your time to take as many opportunities to learn about your community members.  This can only make your volunteer year even better.  

One way that you can do this is by incorporating the following activity into your community time.  Try it with your housemates or your work community.

This activity works well for any number of people.  We suggest having everyone sit in a circle in a comfortable atmosphere.  Ask each person to think of one of their favorite quotes and the reasons why they like it so much.  Have each person write the quote on a strip of paper, fold it and place it in a basket in the middle of the circle.  Once everyone has finished, pass around the basket and allow each community member to choose a strip of paper that is NOT their own.  

Randomly pick anyone to start, and have him/her read the quote out loud.  Have that person share what they like about the quote or what inspiration they draw from it.  After that person has finished, ask the person who contributed the quote to explain why it is one of their favorites.  Do this until everyone has had a chance to share their quote.

This activity is a nice way to gain some insight into the minds and hearts of your community members.  Remember the key to getting to know one another begins with an openness and willingness to learn.